Human Resources Officer - Asia

HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER – ASIA
(Hanoi, Vietnam)

The Organization

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (www.ciat.cgiar.org) works to increase prosperity and improve human nutrition in the tropics through research based solutions in agriculture and environment. CIAT is a member of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org), a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. Headquartered near Cali, Colombia, CIAT has regional offices in Vietnam (Asia) and Kenya (Africa), with staff posted in other developing countries as well. To meet growing demands for research-for-development solutions at a greater scale and under rapidly changing global challenges, CIAT has established an alliance with another CGIAR Center, the Bioversity International.

The Position

CIAT is seeking a Human Resources (HR) Officer, Asia responsible for managing institutional HR support services research and support teams – including nationally and internationally recruited staff, visiting researchers/professionals and fellows, and regional affiliates/consultants -- aligned with the Center-wide HR strategy and procedures.

The incumbent is expected to become a strategic partner in managing regional processes and systems such as recruitment, hiring, onboarding, compensation, performance appraisal, welfare and training -- according to the general guidelines and with support from the HR team at headquarters. The position is intended to assure continuous performance enhancement, harmonized organizational climate and effective employee engagement.

Based at the regional office in Hanoi, the position reports to the Director for Asia and the Director for HR and Operations at headquarters. He/she is both part of the regional administrative support (RAS) and the global HR teams at CIAT.

Key Responsibilities

1. Management of regional HR systems and processes

• recruitment, contracting and onboarding
• implementation and updating of HR policies, guidelines and procedures
• compensation/benefits and welfare administration
• enhancing individual/team capacity and performance, including periodic assessments
• workplace compliance with applicable external regulations, and alignment with market-competitive HR standards and practices

2. Coordination of regionally-managed HR recruitment

• assistance to managers/supervisors in preparation of recruitment requests, job descriptions and vacancy announcements
• liaison with other CIAT support units such as for budget, legal and grant-administration
• coordination of selection processes from candidate interviews and assessments to reference checks and recruitment reports
• preparation of contracts, appointments and other key HR documents

3. Talent management and performance assessment

• setting up general orientation/on-boarding procedures for new staff and team members
• guidance in annual/semi-annual performance target-setting and assessment processes
• facilitation of performance improvement planning and execution, tracking of competencies development, and overall team/organizational capacity enhancement
• provision of internal and external opportunities for training, coaching and career development
• support processes for staff transition and change management

4. General HR support services

• provision of basic counseling for those with performance-related concerns and manage disciplinary actions, in coordination with work supervisors
• Introduction of schemes and standards for workplace safety, life-work balance and ethical HR practices
• assistance to expatriates and their families/dependents in relocating to and from assigned posting locations, including reference to external service providers
• integration of HR functions with the general suite of regional administrative, finance and operations support services

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, business administration, management, socio-economics or related areas. Master’s level studies or additional professional trainings would be an advantage
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in HR-related positions
• Comprehensive knowledge of HR-wide concepts, practices, standards and regulations – both locally and globally
• Demonstrated capacity to perform in a team-based, culturally diverse and international work setting.
• Excellent level of professional English proficiency, both in writing and speaking
• Operational skills in using Microsoft Office suite and other IT applications/systems
• Can work with minimal supervision while demonstrating initiative and resourcefulness
• Flexibility and adaptability to work under tight deadlines and extended periods

Terms of Employment

The position is under the Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) category and limited to applicants with Vietnamese nationality. Contracts are issued and renewed annually, based on performance and availability of resources, including an initial three-month probation period. CIAT is an equal opportunity employer and strives for staff diversity; it offers a multicultural, collegial research environment with competitive salary and benefits.

Applications

Applicants are invited to send: 1) cover letter illustrating their suitability for the above position against the listed qualifications and work responsibilities, and 2) detailed curriculum vitae, including names and addresses of three referees knowledgeable about the candidate’s professional qualifications and work experience. Applications, including preliminary inquiries, should be addressed to the CIAT Asia Human Resources Office, by email to Ms. Khuong Thuy ([email protected]) with the subject line “Application for HR Officer”.

Closing date for applications is 21 March 2019 or until a suitable candidate is identified.